LS Speaker Om Birla urges year-round Yoga practice, says it strengthens democracy and society

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday led a yoga session with Members of Parliament in the Parliament House Complex on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, asserting that yoga is essential for mental well-being, emotional stability and social harmony and calling for it to become a year-round commitment rather than a one-day observance.

‎Addressing MPs and participants after the session, Birla said the International Day of Yoga celebrates India’s enduring civilisational legacy, which has offered humanity a path towards health, balance and inner peace.

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‎”Yoga not only balances the body but also the mind and thoughts. Differences of opinion are natural in Parliament, but yoga shows us the path of dialogue and self-restraint,” he said, emphasising the role of yoga in fostering the values necessary for healthy democratic engagement.

‎Highlighting the historical roots of the practice, Birla said generations of Indian sages and scholars preserved yoga as a way of life dedicated to physical wellness, mental peace and the awakening of human consciousness.

Although yoga has evolved into a worldwide movement embraced across nations, he noted that it remains a gift from India’s ancient knowledge tradition.

‎The Speaker said the pressures of contemporary life have made yoga increasingly relevant. Stress, imbalance and uncertainty have become common features of modern society, he observed, adding that yoga offers an effective means of cultivating mental peace, patience and emotional balance.

‎”One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is mental stress, and yoga provides an accessible, scientific and inclusive solution,” Birla said.

‎He also encouraged young people to integrate yoga into their daily lives, saying it can help counter the effects of excessive screen time and the stress associated with a fast-paced digital lifestyle.

‎Describing yoga as much more than a fitness regimen, Birla said it contributes to the development of personality, character and consciousness. Regular practice, he added, helps individuals become more balanced, improve decision-making abilities and enhance their overall quality of life.

‎”Healthy citizens are the greatest asset of a strong democracy,” he said, adding that if India’s 1.4 billion people devote even a few minutes every day to yoga, it could spark the country’s largest public health movement.

‎Birla also underlined the responsibility of public representatives in spreading awareness about yoga. Since elected representatives remain in constant touch with society, they can play a key role in encouraging citizens to embrace the practice and benefit from its transformative impact, he said.

‎”Democracy requires dialogue, and dialogue requires mental balance—yoga teaches exactly that,” the Speaker remarked, arguing that the discipline and self-awareness fostered through yoga can strengthen democratic institutions and public discourse.

‎Calling yoga a global contribution from India, Birla said, “Yoga is not just India’s soft power; it is India’s responsibility to humanity.” He urged citizens to move beyond symbolic observance and make yoga a daily habit, adding, “Yoga must become not a one-day celebration, but a 365-day commitment.”

‎The International Day of Yoga is observed worldwide every year on June 21 following the adoption of a United Nations resolution in 2014. The annual observance seeks to promote awareness of yoga’s benefits for physical and mental well-being, with celebrations held across India and around the world.